Using Quotation Marks

Why are quotation marks important?

Direct quotations
Dialogue, quoted passages, and quotations within
quotations
Quotation marks for titles
Review A
Review B
 Why are quotation marks important?

In everyday conversation, it’s easy to tell who

said what.
Do you have a
favorite writer?

I really like
Edgar Allan Poe.
 Why are quotation marks important?

In writing, the only way we can show exactly who

is speaking, and when, is by the use of quotation
marks.

“Do you have a favorite writer?”Jaime asked.

“ I really like Edgar Allan Poe, ”said Maria.

[End of Section]
 Direct quotations

Use quotation marks to enclose a direct

quotation—a person’s exact words.

Rita said, “This car is making a strange noise.”

“Maybe we should pull over,” suggested Amy.

 Direct quotations

When an interrupting expression divides a direct

quotation into two parts, place quotation marks
around both parts of the quoted statement.

“I want to sit here,” Anna said, “not over there.”

One quoted sentence with an interrupting expression

“Let’s compromise,” said Sylvia. “We’ll sit in one of

the middle rows.”
New quoted sentence following the interrupting expression
 Direct quotations

A direct quotation can be set off from the rest of a

sentence by a comma, a question mark, or an
exclamation point, but not by a period.

Comma “Your Julius Caesar project is due on the

Ides of March,” Mr. Chen announced.

Question “On what date does the Ides of March

mark
fall?” Tony asked.

Exclamation “That’s easy!” Dorothy exclaimed. “It’s

point
March 15!”
 Direct quotations

Place commas and periods inside the closing

quotation marks.

“I haven’t seen the movie yet,”

remarked Juan, “but I’ve heard it’s
excellent.”
 Direct quotations

Place semicolons and colons outside the closing

quotation marks.

The Greek philosopher Socrates once said,

“As for me, all I know is that I know
nothing”; this is one reason people
consider him a wise man.

The following students have been named

“most likely to succeed”: Corey Baxter
and Sally Ling.
 Direct quotations

Place question marks and exclamation points

inside the closing quotation marks if the
quotation itself is a question or an exclamation.

“Is it cold in here?” the server asked.

The quoted sentence is a question.

“Yes!” I answered. “Please turn down

the air conditioner!”

Both direct quotations are exclamations.

 Direct quotations

If the quotation itself is not a question or an

exclamation, place the question mark or
exclamation point outside the quotation marks.

Why did you say to her, “It doesn’t matter”?

The quoted part is not a question, but the whole sentence
is.

It’s not an insult to be called a “bookworm”!

The quoted part is not an exclamation, but the whole
sentence is.
 Direct quotations
On Your Own
Add quotation marks where they are needed in the
following sentences.
1. We should visit some castles while we are in
England, Mom suggested.
2. Our guide said, Warwick Castle is one of the most
beautiful.
3. Jason asked, Are any of the castles haunted?
4. No, said Mom, but we’ll stay close together.
5. Did Jason say, I like the collection of suits of
armor best?

[End of Section]
Dialogue, quoted passages, and quotations
within quotations
When you write dialogue (conversation), begin a
new paragraph every time the speaker changes.

“Do you want to go to the park today?” Mel asked.

“Sure,” said Sergio. “May I bring my dog, Rufus? He
“Inuse
could about thirty
some minutes,” Mel answered.
exercise.”
“Sounds good to me. Meet me back here in about
half an hour.”
Dialogue, quoted passages, and quotations
within quotations
For a quoted passage with several paragraphs,
put quotation marks at the beginning of each
paragraph and at the end of the last paragraph.
“Now, this car is one of our hottest sellers. It
has bucket seats, a built-in DVD player, and alloy
wheels.
“It’s also one of the safest cars on the road
because of its heavy suspension and antilock brake
system. It gets good gas mileage, too.
“All in all, I think this would be the perfect car
for you.”
Dialogue, quoted passages, and quotations
within quotations
Use single quotation marks to enclose a quotation
within a quotation.

Ron said, “My parrot can say, ‘I’m a

pretty bird.’ Do you want to hear it?”

Helena told me, “It was Ron who said,

‘Parrots make great pets.’”
Dialogue, quoted passages, and quotations
within quotations
On Your Own
Correct the following passage by adding quotation
marks and single quotation marks where needed.
Also show where each new paragraph should begin.
I can’t wait for our camping trip! Alicia exclaimed. It’s
going to be so much fun. Don’t forget, responded her
brother Brian, Dad said that we have to help make a
list and pack all the essentials. I know, said Alicia,
and wasn’t it Mom who said, Make sure you’re
prepared or you can’t go along?

[End of Section]
 Quotation marks for titles

Use quotation marks to enclose titles of short

works such as short stories, poems, essays,
articles, songs, and chapters and other parts of
books and periodicals.

Poem “Fire and Ice”

Essay “Charley in Yellowstone”

Short “The Pit and the Pendulum”

story
 Quotation marks for titles
On Your Own
Correct each sentence by adding quotation marks
where needed.
1. Mr. Guerra explained that the story Luke Baldwin’s
Vow deals with conflicts in values.
2. Kim’s report, which she titled The Wit of Oscar
Wilde, includes quotations from the short story
The Happy Prince.
3. I think Words to Live By would be an excellent
title for our song.
4. Next, read the chapter titled Talk of the Town.

[End of Section]
 Review A

Add quotation marks and single quotation marks where

they are needed in the following sentences.
1. Ms. Loudon said, I enjoyed your poem.
2. I read Kurt Vonnegut’s short story Harrison
Bergeron last week.
3. Maybe, Max said, I’ll check out this grand opening.
4. Have you read Fran Lebowitz’s essay Tips for
Teens?
5. I think Teresa really meant it when she yelled, Stay
out! said Julia.
[End of Section]
 Review B

Correct the following passage by adding quotation

marks where needed. Also show where each new
paragraph should begin.

Before our field trip begins, continued Mrs. Garcia, be

sure you have a notebook and pen. Will we need
binoculars? asked Melvin. Leave your binoculars at
home, answered Mrs. Garcia. Your ears will be more
helpful than your eyes on this trip. That’s right!
exclaimed Felicia. We’re going to see how many bird
calls we can identify.

[End of Section]
The End